Separable button assembly

ABSTRACT

A button structure is disclosed, which can be applied to, and removed from, any fabric or garment without sewing or unstitching operations, the structure comprising a pointed stem adapted to penetrate a fabric and having a retaining base portion, a capsule which is composed by a button shield and a recessed boss integral therewith, the recess of the boss being capable of holding the pointed end of the stem by elastic reaction. The button structure successfully withstands virtually any pulling force tending to remove the button from the fabric. The subject structure can be easily dismembered whenever so desired, by merely pressing the component parts, i.e. the capsule and the stem together.

United States Patent [191 Burgio SEPARABLE BUTTON ASSEMBLY Inventor: I Antonio Burgio, P.za Arduino,

Milan, Italy Filed: Feb,17,19"71 Appl. No.: 115,983

US. Cl. ..24/ 108, 24/90 B, 24/90 A Int. Cl. ..A44b l/38, A44b 1/04 Field of Search ..24/ 108, 1 10, 90 E References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Prentiss ..24/ l 08 1,359,381

Hornbeck..... Pilcher FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 97,715 8/1924 Austria, ..24/110 Apr. 10, 1973 618,386 4/1961 Canada ..24/l08 30,156 7/1964 Germany... ..24/l08 369,990 2/1923 Germany .24/ l 10 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 5 7] ABSTRACT ,A button structure is disclosed, which can be applied to, and removed from, any fabric or garment without sewing or unstitching operations, the structure comprising a pointed stem adapted to penetrate a fabric and having a retaining base portion, a capsule which is composed by a button shield and a recessed boss integral therewith, the recess of the boss being capable of holding the pointed end of the stem by elastic reaction. The button structure successfully withstands virtually any pulling force tending to remove the button from the fabric. The subject structure can be easily dismembered whenever so desired, by merely pressing the component parts, i.e. the capsule and the stern together.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing; Figures PATENTED 1 01973 SHEET 3 BF 3 plied.

SEPARABLE BUTTON ASSEMBLY The known devices for applying buttons to fabrics without sewing belong substantially to two types, viz.: one comprising the step of inserting the fabric between two pieces which are mutually fastened by compression and permanent deformation, so that the removal cannot be but destructive, the other comprising, conversely, the step of inserting the fabric between two pieces which become mutually fastened by compression, but

done by applying to the pieces a tractive force which substantially equal to the compressive one.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the second type aforementioned for applying a button to a fabric without sewing, but such that, even permitting the application of at least one of the component parts between which the fabric is inserted with a mutual limited compression accompanied by an elastic deformation, does not allow that the button may be loosened from the fabric but, instead, shows a tendency towards strengthening the bond as the tractive force imparted to the button is increased, while simultaneously permitting that the component parts be separated whenever the component parts are acted upon with a force of limited magnitude in a certain way as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The device, the subject of the invention, comprises three component parts, that is, a button having a through-hole, a fastening stem having a base portion for being retained on the fabric "and an enlarged portion at the end away of said base portion, and a capsule having elastically deformable walls, which is equipped internally with a chamber intended to give a seat to said enlarged portion, said chamber having a restricted inlet cross-section, the outer surface of the capsule and the inner surface of the through-hole being capable of being matched by mere sliding contact with one another, by clamping the enlarged stern portion which has already entered the chamber before matching.

Usually, the capsule has its outer edge slightly broadened so as to become snappingly matched with the bottom edge of the hole of the button, so as render more stable, but not permanent, the connection between the capsule and the button.

According to one of the preferred embodiments, the stern has an enlarged portionof biconical shape which is terminated by apointed end, thelatter being extremely advantageous both for penetrating the fabric and for coming out of it without tearing the yarns but merely spreading them apart.

The enlarged portion of the stem can, at any rate, have a number of different shapes, such as ellipsoidal, spherical, biparabolic, biconical and the like. The retaining base portion can have any optional shape and size, the only condition being that its transversal dimension is greater than that of the stem so as to afford a grip against the fabric to which the button is to be ap- The capsule can have different shapes and preferably ithas walls with frustoconical outer surface, fitted with notches so as to impart an improved resiliency.

Also the through-hole of the button can have several shapes; preferably, it is frustoconical, the slope of the cone being equal to, or greater than, that of the outer surface of the capsule. In the former case the cavity of with an elastic deformation, so that the bond can be unthe capsule has an inlet cross-section which is smaller than the maximum overall diameter of the enlarged portion, so that the introduction and the removal of the enlarged portion of the stern can take place only by virtue of an elastic deformation of the capsule walls, whereas, upon completion of the assembly, as the capsule has penetrated and matches the wall of the button through-hole, the button becomes permanently fastened since the wall of the through hole of the button prevents that the capsule be expanded, even if the button is strongly stressed by pulling the fabric.

In the latter case, instead, the capsule can have an inlet cross-sectional area which is not necessarily smaller than the maximum size of the enlarged portion of the stem, so that the latter can enter the chamber without forcing or a snapping action. However, as the capsule is matched to the through-hole of the button, the greater conical slope of the latter, causes the capsule walls to become tighter so that both the stem with its enlarged portion and the capsule are locked in the button, and the locking action tends to become stronger, the stronger is the tractive or pulling force imparted to the button.

The foregoing and other features can be more clearly appreciated from the ensuing description with reference to the embodiments shown by way of illustration only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a device as already applied'to a fabric. 7

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in exploded view.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a device as slightly modified with respect to the former.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 1, slightly modified.

FIG. 6 shows the two component parts, the capsule and the stem, prior to being matched, and

FIG. 7 shows the capsule of FIG. 6, but rotated through The device (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a button 4 having a central hole 13 with frustoconical wall, and a undercut throat 14, a fastening stem 11 having a biconical enlarged portion 1 with a pointed end and a retaining base head 12, and, lastly, a capsule 6 with a chamber 5 (undercut) and outer walls of frustoconical shape with notches 9, the bottom wall of the capsule having a button shield 7. In the example shown, the slope of the conical outer wall of the capsule is substantially the same as that of the hole 13, and the minimum size of the cavity 5 is less than the maximum diameter of the enlarged portion 1.

For assembly, it suffices to pass the stem. 11 with its enlarged and pointed end portion 1 through the fabric 2, to introduce the enlarged portion into the hole 13 of the button, snappingly to insert the enlarged portion into the chamber 5 of the capsule 6, to introduce the capsule 6 into the hole 13 of the button 4,and, lastly, to match the button and the capsule by causing the edge of the button shield into the throat 14. Obviously, the force required for the assembly is a minimum and, on completion of the assembly, an even considerable tractive force imparted to the button either for holding the buttoned garment or a possible jerk, is unable to unlatch the button from the device. When, instead, the intentional and non destructive disassembly of the button is required, it suffices to press the button against the fabric 2 and thus against the head 12 until the edge of the shield 12 is snappingly cleared from the throat 14 andthe capsule is partially slipped out of the button assembly; then, byslightly pulling the stem, the enlarged portion can be disengaged from the capsule walls, inasmuch as the latter can be elastically spread apart.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrative of an embodiment of the device which is substantially the same as the previous one,,but with the following modifications. The capsule has the chamber 5 with notches 9 as hereinbefore, but its minimum dimension is not less than the max imum dimension of the enlarged portion 1, so that the enlarged portion penetrates the chamber without snapping and freely. In addition, it should be noticed that the slope of the outer conical wall of the capsule 6 is less than that of the wall of the hole 13 of the button, so that, as the capsule is inserted in the hole 13, the capsule walls are tightened and lock the stern enlarged portion 1. Also in this case, upon assembly, the bond tends to become stronger as the drag or jerk imparted to the button is increased. For the intentional disassembly, the procedure is the one described above, with a reduced force.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the conical wall of the capsule 6 is terminated by a slightly broadened edge (undercut) with respect to the button through-hole, so that upon assembling the button by imparting a slight pressure between the capsule and the button until causing the undercut portion 8 to snap under the button 4, the latching position has been assuredly attained.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 shows, with respect to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, the modification that the capsule 6 has an extension 8 similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but which, rather than being limited to a thin edge, is extended up to 8' so as to contact the fabric to which the button is applied. The position of the button on the fabric is thus rendered more stable.

Another modification stands in that the pointed end 14 of the biconieal enlarged portion 1 is slightly radiussed, so as to prevent it from penetrating the inside of a yarn of the fabric thus damaging it, and to cause it, conversely, to pass between a yarn and the others.

The end edge 12' of the retaining head 12 is radiussed so as to prevent any wear or damage to any underlying articles of apparel.

Lastly, the crown 7 is smaller than in the other embodiments described herein and is slightly thickened at the centre so as to prevent possible piercing by the pointed end 12.

From the foregoing, the features of the subject device with respect to the conventional ones, even those having a resilient locking member, are apparent. As a matter of fact, in the conventional system, there is a limiting force for stripping the buttonout, said force;

being exactly equal to that required for the assembly. In some types, it has been attempted to overcome this defeet by providing a planar undercut in the lower portion of the enlarged and pointedend so as to prevent it from being slipped out, but it is obvious that suchundercut damages the fabric when it is desired to remove the button.

In the subject device, conversely, the resistance to the load is afforded only by the button-capsule match, which prevents the enlarged portion from being slipped out, and so also the stem, from a hole which, upon completion of the assembly, has a cross-sectional area smaller than before, as specially provided. Thus, limiting force for the resistance to pulling actions isnot the limit of elastic deformation of either component part, but the force required for rupturing the weaker of them. In the case in'which it is desired to overcome the danger of tearing the fabric out under considerably high loads, it will suffice to provide, in either of the members which compose the device, an appropriately weakened portion, which is calibrated for any preselected load.

What is claimed is:

1. A separable button assembly comprising:

a solid button having a single through hole therethrough convergent toward the rear face thereof;

a fastening member having an enlarged base and a solid stern terminating in an enlarged pointed end having a rearward portion tapering toward said base, said stem being adapted to pierce fabric and extend into said button hole with said base overlying the rear face of the fabric;

a retaining member having an enlarged crown adapted to overlie the front face of said button and a central socketed portion adapted to extend through said button hole and to receive said pointed end, said socketed portion being resilient and having an interior restriction provided with annular surfaces on the opposite sides thereof which are convergent toward each other, the minimum diameter of said restriction, when relaxed, being less than the maximum diameter of said pointed end, and said socketed portion having an exterior tapering portion adjacent said crown generally complementary to said button hole, whereby after said stem has pierced fabric and extended through said button hole, said socketed portion can be snapped over said pointed end by resilient expansion of said restriction and thereafter said button hole engaged with said complementary tapering portion on said stem to prevent expansion of said restriction and lock said stem end in said socketed portion, and said button hole can be disengaged from said complementary tapering portion on said stem to permit snapping release of said end from said socketed portion; and resilient snapping means releasably retaining said socketed portion in said button hole.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the socketed portion is provided with an exterior enlargement adjacent the smaller end of the exterior tapering portion thereof, said enlargement being adapted to be resiliently constricted to pass through the button hole and to resiliently expand to underlie the rear face of the button to yieldingly retain said button hole in engagement with the complementary portion on said stem.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the socketed portion is extended beyond the exterior enlargement to substantially engage with the front face of the fabric when the parts are assembled.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the snapping means includes an annular interiorly undercut rim on the outer face of the button and a circular edge on the crown adapted to snappingly engage under said rim to releasably retain the button hole in engagement 5 with the complementary portion on the stem. 

1. A separable button assembly comprising: a solid button having a single through hole therethrough convergent toward the rear face thereof; a fastening member having an enlarged base and a solid stem terminating in an enlarged pointed end having a rearward portion tapering toward said base, said stem being adapted to pierce fabric and extend into said button hole with said base overlying the rear face of the fabric; a retaining member having an enlarged crown adapted to overlie the front face of said button and a central socketed portion adapted to extend through said button hole and to receive said pointed end, said socketed portion being resilient and having an interior restriction provided with annular surfaces on the opposite sides thereof which are convergent toward each other, the minimum diameter of said restriction, when relaxed, being less than the maximum diameter of said pointed end, and said socketed portion having an exterior tapering portion adjacent said crown generally complementary to said button hole, whereby after said stem has pierced fabric and extended through said button hole, said socketed portion can be snapped over said pointed end by resilient expansion of said restriction and thereafter said button hole engaged with said complementary tapering portion on said stem to prevent expansion of said restriction and lock said stem end in said socketed portion, and said button hole can be disengaged from said complementary tapering portion on said stem to permit snapping release of said end from said socketed portion; and resilient snapping means releasably retaining said socketed portion in said button hole.
 2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the socketed portion is provided with an exterior enlargement adjacent the smaller end of the exterior tapering portion thereof, said enlargement being adapted to be resiliently constricted to pass through the button hole and to resiliently expand to underlie the rear face of the button to yieldingly retain said button hole in engagement with the complementary portion on said stem.
 3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the socketed portion is extended beyond the exterior enlargement to substantially engage with the front face of the fabric when the parts are assembled.
 4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the snapping means includes an annular interiorly undercut rim on the outer face of the button and a circular edge on the crown adapted to snappingly engage under said rim to releasably retain the button hole in engagement with the complementary portion on the stem. 